Apparatus for cleaning tanks and the like



9st. 9, 1956 J. F. JOYSLEN 2,766,065

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING TANKS AND THE LIKE Filed July 29, 1954 Fig, i

4/ r 46 .97 i J o 00 i0 ,4 37 55 in 5 7 i;- I H a- 50 f4 34 36 2m 1 (D 1 37 i E INVEN TOR. JfiC/f A Jws'mm- APPARATUS FOR CLEANING AND TEE LIKE Walnut Creek, Calitl, assignor to Turco inc Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of TANKS Jack F. Joysien,

Products, California This application relates to an apparatus for use in cleaning tanks and the like. More particularly, the application is directed to a nozzle spray head adapted to be inserted in a tank to spray the interior thereof with cleaning or treating solutions.

In prior structures of this type it was customary to employ spray heads incorporating a fluid motor driven either by the fluid being sprayed or by a separate source of mid under pressure. The motor was directly geared to rotate the nozzle head assembly about one axis and to rtate the nozzles about a second axis at right angles thereto. In directly geared structures of this type, it is inherent that the stream issuing from the nozzles will repeat a certain pattern of movement, and after a predetermined number of revolutions of the fluid motor, the parts will return to the same point. The spray heads will then repeat the same cycle of operation. In the use of spray heads of this type, it has been found that under certain conditions of operation the devices tend to stripe the interior of the tank being cleaned, or treated, and it is to avoid this set pattern of operation and the striping efiect inherent therewith that the present structure has been devised.

It is, therefore, the principal object of this invention to provide a spray head which is rotatable about one axis, while the nozzles rotate about an axis at right angles thereto, wherein the rotation of the nozzles is not directly correlated with the rotation of the head whereby an infinite variation of the spray pattern is obtained, and the creation of a set pattern of spray and striping the interior of the tank being treated is avoided.

Another object of this invention is to provide a spray head of the type set forth in the preceding object wherein the rotation of the assembly as a whole is effected through the use of a rotary impact motor, whereby the rotation of the spray head is effected in intermittent periodic increments of movement.

A further object of the invention is to provide a spray head according to the preceding object wherein the rotation of the spray head as a whole is accomplished by a direct gearing between the impact motor and the assembly, and wherein a friction drive is employed between the motor and the spray nozzles, thereby permitting a controlled slippage therebetween to provide an infinite variation of the spray pattern.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a spray head according to the preceding object wherein the tension'on the friction drive may be adjusted to vary the slippage thereof and thus infinitely vary the spray pattern obtained.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a spray head of the type according to the preceding objects which is adapted to be used with various chemical cleaning solvents or with acids and other corrosive liquids used to treat the interior of a tank, whereby both the cleaning and treatment of the tank may be accomplished with the same set-up, thus decreasing the time necessary for the reconditioning of a tank.

' One form which the invention may assume is described 2,766,065 Patented Oct. 9, 1956 in the following specification, and illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a sectional view through a spray head assembly embodying the principles of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an end view of the nozzle head assembly.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the striking blocks.

Referring now to the drawing, 10 indicates a supporting conduit adapted to be connected by suitable pipes or hoses (not shown) to a source of cleaning fluid under pressure. A T-shaped tubular housing, generally indicated at 11, has a tubular portion 12 which rotatably embraces the conduit 10. A sleeve of inert sealing material 13 of polytetrafluoroethylene, commonly referred to as Teflon, or other materials having extremely high resistance to wear and corrosion such as sintered carbides, or chrome plate, is interposed between the tubular portion 12 of the housing 11 and the conduit 10 to act both as a bearing material and a seal. The inner end of the conduit 10 is provided with an external flange 14, and a ball type thrust bearing 15 is interposed between the housing 11 and the flange. A plurality of passages 16 is provided in the conduit 10 adjacent the bearing 15 to permit fluid from the conduit 10 to flush the bearing.

The portion 17 of the housing 11 extends at right angles to the portion 12 and defines a chamber 18 in 20, previously mentioned,

material as blocks 31, which project inwardly toward the rotor 25. The blocks 31 and 32 are in opposed relation to each other. A pair of diametrically opposed striking blocks 33 is mounted on the side of the rotor 25 facing the flange 27. The blocks 33 are adapted to strike the blocks 31 as the rotor rotates. A pair of diametrically opposed striking blocks, only one of which is shown at 34, is mounted on the side of flange 29. The blocks 34 are adapted to strike the blocks 32 on the flange 29. The blocks 34 are preferably angufrom the blocks 33. However, a greater with a difierent angular spacing may larly spaced 9 number of blocks be used. The distance between the opposing faces of the blocks 31 and the blocks 32 is slightly less than the distance between the planes of the outer surface of the blocks 33 and 34.

From the foregoing description, it can be seen that when the rotor rotates, first the blocks 33 thereon strike the blocks 31 on the flange 27 and give a rotary impact to the stator member 29 to rotate the stator relative to the housing 11. The rotor is forced outwardly to clear the blocks 31 and 33 and bring the blocks 34 into the plane of the blocks 32. After another 90 of rotation, the blocks 34 will strike the blocks 33 and produce another angular impact on the stator 2' Thus, every 90 of rotation of the rotor 25 produces an angular impact on the stator 20. The stator, therefore, rotates relative to the housing 11 by a series of intermittent increments of rotation.

The means for causing rotation of the rotor 25 comprises a longitudinal bore 36 extending from the outer end of the stator 29 to a point inside the chamber 18. A plurality of radial ports 37 connects the bore 36 with the chamber 18. A plurality of radial ports 38 connects the bore 36 with an annular groove 39 formed in the central portion of the rotor 25. A plurality of L-shaped passages 40 is formed in the rotor 24. Each of the grooves 40 is connected at its inner end to the annular groove 39. The outer end of each of the passages 49 opens into the periphery of the rotor 25 and is adapted to discharge fluid tangentially thereof.

Referring now to the right end of the housing portion 17, as viewed in Fig. 1, a circular bearing boss 41 is formed therein. The boss 41 is coaxial with the boss 19 previously described. A tubular member 42 is mounted in the boss 41 with a sleeve 43 of Teflon, or other wear and corrosion resistant material, interposed therebetween. The tubular member 42 has a radial flange 44 extending outwardly from its mid-portion adjacent the outer surface of the housing section 17. A nozzle head 45 is mounted for rotation on the outer portion of the tubular member 42. A pair of bearings 45 and 48, L-shaped in cross section and made of sintered carbide or other wear and corrosion resistant material, is interposed with the circular flange of each between the nozzle head 45 and the tubular member 42, and with the radial flange of each adjacent the outer surface of the nozzle head 45.

The stator 20 is provided with a reduced diameter portion 2th: which extends through the member 42 and is threadcdly connected to the outer end 47 thereof. The external diameter of the tubular member 42 is slightly larger than the diameter of the portion of the stator 20 which is journaled in the boss 19 to create a hydraulic thrust on the stator 20 to the right as viewed in Fig. l. The thrust is taken by the bearing 28 interposed between the flange 27 and the left end of the tubular housing portion 17. The friction in the sliding bearing 2% acts as a brake on the stator 20 and stabilizes the movement thereof by preventing oscillation of said stator.

An annular friction plate 49 is rotatably received on the tubular member 42 adjacent the end 47 and slidably contacts the portion of the bearing 48 adjacent the outer surface of the outer wall of the nozzle head 45. A cap is threadedly fastened to the outer end of the stator 20, and a plurality of springs 51 is interposed between the cap 56 and the friction plate 49. The springs 51 force the plate 49 toward the flange 44 on the member 42 and confine the nozzle head 45 therebetween. The distance between the cap 50 and the flange 44 may be varied to adjust the tension on the springs 51 by changing the thickness of the shim 55 interposed between the cap 59 and the end 47 of the tubular member 42.

A plurality of apertures 42a spaced circumferentially around the member 42 adjacent the end 47 thereof permits fluid to flow from the member 42 into the nozzle 4 head 45. The nozzle head 45 is provided with eight nozzle outlets 52, and a nozzle 53 is threaded into each of the outlets. The nozzles 53 are of conventional design and are of the type which incorporate stream straightening tubes 54. I

In spray heads designed to be used with acids, all of the parts, with the exception of the sintered carbide bearings and striking blocks and the Teflon seals, are made of stainless steel. If only non-corrosive liquids are to be used, of course, the assembly could be made from the less expensive materials.

In the operation of the device, the spray head assembly is suspended or suitably mounted in a tank in the manner which is customary in the art. Cleaning or treating fluid under pressure is pumped in through conduit 13 into the chamber 13. The major portion of the fluid passes through the tubular member 42 into the nozzle head 45 and out through the nozzles 53 to impinge on the surface of the tank being cleaned. The remainder of the fluid enters the ports 37, passes through the bore 36 and out through the ports 38 into the annular groove 39 in the rotor 25. The fluid passes from the annular groove 39 through the four passages 40 in the rotor and jets tangentially from the outer ends thereof and causes the rotor to rotate. As previously explained, the rotor causes the stator 28 to rotate by periodic intermittent increments of rotation. Because of the direct drive of the intermeshing bevel gears 23 and 24, the rotation of the stator 20 causes the housing 11 to rotate about the axis of the conduit 10.

The cap 50, the friction plate 49 and the springs 51 together form a friction drive between the stator 20 and the nozzle head 45. Due to the nature of the rotational movement of the stator 20 explained above, there will be a certain amount of slippage between the friction plate 49 and the nozzle head 45, and the amount of rotation of the nozzle head 45 will not be in proportion to the rotation of the assembly as a whole about the conduit 10. Hence, the spray pattern will not repeat itself for every rotation of the housing as it would if there were a direct drive between the stator and the nozzle head. It can readily be seen that by changing the tension on the springs 51, in the manner previously described, the degree of slippage between the stator and the nozzle head 45 can be changed, and hence the spray pattern within the tank can be varied from a very fine pattern to a coarse pattern.

While I have shown a nozzle head incorporating eight nozzles, it should be understood that other nozzle heads could be used, it merely requiring that the nozzles be symmetrically located so that their thrust will cancel out.

From the foregoing description it may be seen that I have provided a spray head for cleaning tanks or the like wherein a variable spray pattern is obtained and wherein the spray pattern will not repeat itself in cycles as the device is operated. It may further be seen that I have provided an assembly which is extremely resistant to deterioration by any of the corrosive or alkaline cleaning or treating solutions or liquids normally used in the cleaning or treatment of tanks or the like.

While I have shown and described the preferred form of my invention, it is obvious that various changes may be made in its construction by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a tank washing spray head assembly, a rotary impact motor, positive drive means connected to said motor for rotating said assembly about a first axis, a nozzle head rotatably mounted to rotate about a second axis perpendicular to said first axis, and drive means connected to said motor for rotating said nozzle head about said second axis, said last mentioned drive means comprising a. slip mechanism whereby there is no direct ratio what I claim and motor for rotating said nozzle head about axis.

said second a rotary to said axis, a

mounted to rotate about a second motor for rotating said assembly about a first nozzle head rotatably axis perpendicular to tion of said housin a plurality of nozzles mounted in sa d nozzle head, and a friction drive assembly connecting sa1d drive mechanism and said nozzle head.

5. A tank Washing spray head assembly comprising a 6. A tank washing spray head assembly comprising a supporting con'dult, a housing rotatably supported on conduit for rotating relative to said conduit by periodic intermittent increments of rotation, at

said housing for rotation about an axis perpendicular to the axis of rotation of sa1d housing,

motor and said nozzle and means to vary the tension on said friction of slippage therein and a rotary housing. head assembly comprising a connected to said motor, a second bevel gear meshing with said first bevel gear and fixed to said conduit whereby said motor and said housing are rotated by periodic intermittent increments of nozzle head rotatably mounted on said housing for rotation about an axis perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said housing, a plurality of nozzles mounted in said nozzle head, and a friction drive assembly connecting said impact motor and said nozzle head.

9. A tank washing spray head assembly comprising a supporting conduit, a housing rotatably supported on impact motor in said housing, a

the rotation of housing.

10. A tank Washing spray head assembly comprising a supporting conduit, a housing rotatably supported on said conduit, a stator member rotatably supported in said housing, a rotor rotatably supported on said stator and adapted to be rotated by fluid pumped through said conduit and housing, means on said rotor adapted to produce periodic rotary 1mpacts on said stator and cause increments of rotation, a nozzle head rotatably mounted on said housing for rotation about an axis perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said housing, a plurality of nozzles mounted in said nozzle head, and a friction drive a supporting conduit, a housing rotatably supported on said conduit, a stator said housing, a rotor rotatably supported on said stator crements of rotation, said housing for rotation about an axis perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said housing, a plurality of nozzles mounted in said nozzle head, a friction drive assembly connecting said stator to said nozzle head, and means a supporting conduit, a said conduit, a stator said housing, a rotor rotatably supported on said stator and adapted to be rotated by fluid pumped through said conduit and housing, means on said rotor adapted to the rotation of saidnozzle rotation about said conduit, a

produce periodic rotary impacts on said stator and cause about said conduit, a nozzle head rotatably mounted on said stator to rotate relative to said housing by periodic said housing for rotation about an axis perpendicular to intermittent increments of rotation, a first bevel gear the axis of rotation of said housing, a plurality of nozzles mounted on said stator, a second bevel gear meshing with mounted in said nozzle head, a friction drive assembly said first bevel gear and fixed to said conduit whereby said connecting said stator to said nozzle head, and means to housing is rotated by periodic increments of movement vary the tension on said friction drive assembly to vary about said conduit, a nozzle head rotatably mounted on the degree of slippage therein and thereby vary the ratio said housing for rotation about an axis perpendicular to between the rotation of said nozzle head and the rotation the axis of rotation of said housing, a plurality of nozzles of said housing.

mounted in said nozzle head, and a friction drive assembly connecting said stator to said nozzle head, References Cited in the file of this patent 13. A tank washing spray head assembly comprising a supporting conduit, a housing rotatably supported on UNITED STATES PATENTS said conduit, a stator member rotatably supported in 181,453 Le Blane Aug. 22, 1876 said housing, a rotor rotatably supported on said stator 297,407 Jenkin Apr. 22, 1884 and adapted to be rotated by fluid pumped through said 1,657,990 Blouin Ian. 31, 1928 conduit and housing, means on said rotor adapted to pro- 1,884,041 Marlay Oct. 25, 1932 duce periodic rotary impacts on said stator and cause said 2,074,052 orge Mar. 16, 1937 stator to rotate relative to said housing by periodic inter- 2,120,784- Howald June 14, 1938 mittent increments of rotation, a first bevel gear mounted 2,637,426 Van Sittert May 5, 1953 on said stator, 21 second bevel gear meshing with said 2,661,241 V neziano Dec 1, 1953 first bevel gear and fixed to said conduit whereby said 2,714, Kennedy July 26, 1955 housing is rotated by periodic increments of movement 

